Surgical instrument

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a surgical instrument ( 1 ) having a hermetic chamber ( 19 ), wherein at least one electrical connection ( 9 - 9   VIII ) is provided from the hermetic chamber ( 19 ) to outside the hermetic chamber ( 19 ) to an outer area ( 20 ). The surgical instrument ( 1 ) according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one electrical connection ( 9 - 9   VIII ) is applied to an electrically insulating substrate ( 21, 100 ), wherein a first insulating layer ( 14, 25 ) is applied at least to the electrical connection ( 9 - 9   VIII ) and a layer ( 15, 23 ) suitable for a hermetic connection and hermetically connected to a wall ( 16, 28, 29 ) of the surgical instrument ( 1 ), is applied to the first insulating layer ( 14, 25 ).

The invention relates to a surgical instrument having a hermeticchamber, wherein at least one electrical connection from the hermeticchamber to outside the hermetic chamber to an outer area is provided.

This type of surgical instrument is known for example from DE 10 2006015 176 B3 and is also shown for example in FIG. 1 of this patentapplication.

A rigid medical video endoscope with a system tube is shown there, whichis provided distally with a window and which receives an objective and avideo camera in its distal end area, which is connected to the outsidewith electrical lines through a proximal opening of the system tube,wherein the lines in the opening pass through a sealing made of pottingmaterial.

The object of the invention is to offer an alternative solution forproviding a surgical instrument with a hermetic chamber, wherein inparticular the electrical conductor lead-through should be designedhermetically.

This object is solved through a surgical instrument with a hermeticchamber, wherein at least one electrical connection from the hermeticchamber to outside the hermetic chamber to an outer area is provided,wherein the at least one electrical connection is applied to anelectrically insulating substrate, wherein a first insulating layer isapplied at least to the electrical connection and a layer suitable for ahermetic connection is applied to the first insulating layer, which ishermetically connected with a wall of the surgical instrument.

The electrical connection can hereby be for example a conductor path ora cable or a lead. The hermetic chamber in the surgical instrument isthus produced at least through a multi-layer applied to the electricallyinsulating substrate in connection with a wall, which is hermeticallyconnected for example with an outer tube of the surgical instrument. Afeed-through device comprising a substrate, at least one electricalconnection and an insulating layer and at least one metal layer is thusformed. These layers are hereby permanently connected with each other,in particular via chemical connections or chemical bonds. The metallayer then serves as the layer suitable for the hermetic connection. Theelectrical connection is also permanently connected with the substrateand the insulating layer, in particular via chemical connections orchemical bonds.

The surgical instrument thus has a feed-through device, which ishermetically connected in a tube of the surgical instrument with thetube.

The other side of the hermetic chamber of the surgical instrument canfor example be in the area of a window as in DE 10 2006 015 176 B3,where a hermetic sealing is provided. This can also be in the area of acrystal filter as in DE 196 47 855 B4. The hermetic connection describedin this invention thus preferably concerns the proximal area of thesurgical instrument. It could however also be used on the distal end ofthe surgical instrument.

The hermetic connection is preferably a soldering. The electricalconnection, which is applied to the electrically insulating substrate,can be an electrically conductive coating, for example a metal. Thedifferent layers or respectively also the electrical connection, whichare applied accordingly as per the invention, can be applied by means ofCVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), electron sputtering, ion sputtering,laser ablation or similar methods. The layer suitable for the hermeticconnection is preferably made of a metal, in particular gold or silver.

The hermetic chamber is preferably provided in a tube, in particular anendoscope, in particular a laparoscope. The tube can be cylindrical oralso have a different shape.

Through the invention, tubes with very small diameters can be used sincethe hermetic feed-through of electrical lines or respectively electricalconnections can be designed very small. Large-scale hermetic plugcontacts, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,462 B2 or in DE 196 47 855 B4,can be foregone.

The electrically insulating substrate preferably has a thermalconductivity of more than 1 W/mK, in particular more than 10 W/mK, inparticular greater than 200 W/mK. A correspondingly high thermalconductivity is preferably provided in order to thus enable heatdissipation, for example of the heat, which is generated by lamps in thehermetic chamber. Suitable materials are for example a ceramic likeboron nitride, which has a thermal conductivity of up to approx. 400W/mK, aluminum nitride (180 W/mK to 200 W/mK), silicon carbide (60 W/mKto 160 W/mK), aluminum oxide (20 W/mK to 50 W/mK), silicon dioxide (1W/mK to 10 W/mK), silicon nitride (approximately 30 W/mK to 180 W/mK).

The electrically insulating substrate is preferably at least a part of aflexible conductor plate, wherein in particular the at least oneelectrical connection is at least a conductor of a conductor plate.

Through this preferred embodiment, further connections of conductors,cables or flexible conductor plates to the electrical devices in thehermetic chamber are to be avoided since they themselves represent theelectrical connection. The flexible conductor plate is then providedwith the corresponding layers in order to thus enable a hermeticconnection.

Several electrical connections are preferably provided, which arearranged in particular symmetrically around the substrate. Through thispreferred measure, large amounts of data can be forwarded quickly andaccordingly several devices requiring an electrical supply in thesurgical instrument are provided with power.

A wall preferably extends from the tube in the area of the electricallyinsulating substrate, in particular radially inward, wherein the wallsurrounds the electrically insulating substrate, in particular radially,and is connected circumferentially hermetically with the layer suitablefor the hermetic connection.

Within the framework of the invention, radial means not necessarily justa circular extension inward. Tubes can also be provided, which are notcircular in cross-section but are rather shaped differently, for exampleelliptically or quadratically or respectively rectangularly. Ellipticalor polygonal tubes can also be provided. The electrically insulatingsubstrate can also be designed angularly in cross-section, wherein thehermetic connection is also designed circumferentially hermetically,wherein in the framework of the invention the term radial refers tovarious geometric shapes.

The wall preferably comprises at least two shell elements, which are inparticular joined together hermetically.

Furthermore, the object is solved through a surgical instrument with ahermetic chamber, wherein a majority of electrical connections from thehermetic chamber to outside the hermetic chamber to an outer area isprovided, which preferably has the above characteristics according tothe invention or respectively preferred and which is furthercharacterized in that the plurality of electrical connections areapplied to a surface of an electrically insulating body, wherein thebody has a longitudinal extension from the hermetic chamber to outsidethe hermetic chamber, wherein the body is hermetically connected with atube.

The tube is preferably a metal tube. By providing a majority ofelectrical connections on a surface of an electrically insulating body,it is possible in an easy manner to provide a plurality of electricalconnections on a connection piece so that the electrical connection ofelectronic components for example in a video endoscope from ahermetically sealed area to outside the hermetically sealed area isenabled in a secure manner. In the case of video endoscopes, the numberof electrical feed lines continues to grow with the development of thevideo cameras. For example, up to 39 connector pins are currently used.The construction of hermetically sealed plugs for example in aglass-potted connector or other hermetical seal increases in difficulty.The connector pins hereby become thinner and more sensitive.

Through the suggested surgical instrument or respectively the suggestedfeed-through device comprising the electrically insulating body with themajority of electrical connections, which are applied to a surface ofthe electrically insulating body, it is possible to use correspondingconductor paths instead of connector pins. The insulating body can befor example a ceramic pin with a longitudinal extension along which theelectrical connections are also provided. Very small or respectivelynarrow electrical connections can hereby be provided. The electricallyinsulating body or respectively ceramic pin is preferably imprinted withthe electric conductors or respectively electrical connections. Thehereby created robust electrical connection can then for example becasted in a hermetically sealed manner with a glass-potted connector orother potting types.

Another layer is preferably applied at least to a part of the electricalconnections, for example another ceramic layer or another insulatinglayer and a metallic layer to this layer, which is suitable for ahermetic connection. A hermetic connection to a tube, for example theouter tube of the surgical instrument, can then be performed on thismetallic layer, for example through soldering on a surface extendingfrom the outer tube of the surgical instrument inward.

The surface of the body is preferably imprinted with the majority ofelectrical connections and/or the electrical connections are applied inthe form of a metallization to the surface of the body. The bodypreferably has grooves extending longitudinally axially, wherein atleast a portion of the majority of the electrical connections isarranged in the grooves. A very large number of electrical feed lines orrespectively connections can hereby be provided, which do not interferewith each other. Electrical connections can thus be provided inparticular on at least two planes or respectively different layers.

In the case of a cylindrical insulating body, for example acorresponding ceramic pin, electrical connections are then preferablyarranged on a diameter in the cut of the insulating body, which is forexample smaller than the outer diameter of the insulating body. Theelectrical connections are hereby very well protected from damage.Moreover, almost double the number of electrical connections arepreferably achieved in that further electrical connections are appliedto another level, namely for example the outer surface on the outerdiameter of the insulating body. The grooves preferably have arectangular or V-shaped cross-section.

If preferably in the case of the V-shaped grooves in each case anelectrical connection is applied to a flank of the respective groove, arelatively simple production of the electrical connection is possible.These can then be performed namely through imprinting or sputtering of ametal from one side during a rotation or several slow rotations of theelectrical insulating body. The electrical connection can herebycompletely fill a flank or also cover just one part. The electricalconnection preferably ends at a distance from the outer surface of theinsulating body in the respective groove. A portion of the majority ofthe electrical connections is preferably provided outside the grooves.

Within the framework of the invention, the term rectangular section of agroove also includes a U-shaped cross-section.

Furthermore, the tube is preferably the inner or outer tube of thesurgical instrument or is hermetically sealed with the inner and outertube of the surgical instrument. The inner and outer tube is thereby inparticular a hermetically sealed tube.

The invention is described below without restricting the generalinventive idea based on exemplary embodiments with reference to thedrawings, wherein the drawings are expressly referenced with respect toall details according to the invention not described in greater detailin the text. The drawings show in:

FIG. 1 a schematic longitudinal cut through a system tube of a videoendoscope in accordance with the state of the art,

FIG. 2 a schematic section of a longitudinal cut through a surgicalinstrument according to the invention,

FIG. 3 a schematic radial sectional view of the embodiment in accordancewith FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 a schematic axial sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 a schematic radial sectional view of another embodiment accordingto the invention of a corresponding electrically insulating substratewith additional layers,

FIG. 6 a schematic radial sectional view of a portion of an embodimentaccording to the invention,

FIG. 7 a schematic sectional representation along A-A in accordance withFIG. 6,

FIG. 8 a schematic radial sectional representation through the innerarea of a surgical instrument,

FIG. 9 a schematic axial sectional representation along BB from FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 a schematic portion of a longitudinal cut through a surgicalinstrument according to the invention,

FIG. 11 a schematic three-dimensional representation of a portion ofFIG. 10 in an alternative embodiment,

FIG. 12 a schematic lateral view of a portion of the body from FIG. 11in another embodiment and

FIG. 13 a schematic lateral view of a portion of another embodimentaccording to the invention.

In the following figures, the same or similar elements or respectivelycorresponding parts have the same reference numbers so that acorresponding reintroduction is omitted.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a longitudinal cut through a system tube of avideo endoscope according to the state of the art from DE 10 2006 015176 B3.

FIG. 1 shows a rigid medical video endoscope 1 with a system tube 2 madeof metal, which is closed on the distal end with a soldered in window 3,behind which a schematically shown objective 4 and a video camera 5 arearranged in the distal end area of the system tube 2, which is connectedto the outside via the lines. In the simplified example in FIG. 1, theseare two electrical lines 6.

The electrical lines 6 run through the proximal opening 7 of the systemtube 2, the proximal opening being closed with a potting material 8. Theelectrical lines 6 are designed in this area as non-insulatingfeed-through conductors 9. According to the usual state of the art,glass, which is melted in liquid form into the system tube 2 and aroundthe feed-through conductors 9, is provided for sufficient hermeticsealing of the interior of the system tube 2 as potting material 8. Asimple design of the potting material 8 made of plastic can lead toinsufficient gas permeability.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a part of a surgical instrument 1 accordingto the invention, for example a video endoscope, a laparoscope, anendoscope or a similar instrument in a first embodiment according to theinvention, wherein the part is shown, which is represented for ahermetic sealing of a hermetic chamber 19 from an outer area 20.

In this exemplary embodiment, the system tube 2 is designedcylindrically. It can however also have other shapes. For the hermeticthrough connection or respectively for the hermetic electricalconnection, a conductor path structure in the form of feed-throughconductors 9, 9 ^(I) and other feed-through conductors, which are thenshown in FIG. 3, are applied to the exterior of a cylindrical substrate21, which preferably has a non-electrically conductive but thermallyconductive material.

The application of the conductor path structure can occur by means ofprinting, CVD, magnetic sputtering, laser ablation and the like.

An insulating layer 14 is then applied and on the insulating layer ametal layer 15. Adjacent to the metal layer 15 is the wall 16, whichleads to the system tube 2. The wall is hermetically soldered with thesystem tube 2 and the metal layer 15. A hermetical sealing of thehermetic chamber 19 is hereby enabled.

For the through contacting or respectively for the connection with thecorresponding lines, flexible conductor plates 10, 11, 12, 13 areprovided, which are electrically connected with a corresponding solder18 also with the respective conductor path 9, 9 ^(I) and also the otherconductor paths from FIG. 3. It can be seen that on the end surfaces ofthe substrate the conductor paths or respectively the feed-throughconductors 9, 9 ^(I) and also the other feed-through conductors 9^(II)-9 ^(VIII), which are shown in FIG. 3, are exposed. The insulatinglayer 14 and the metal layer 15 are arranged completely around thesubstrate 21. The substrate can be a ceramic, which is named above.

For stabilization of the flexible conductor plates 10, 11 on theproximal end of the surgical instrument or respectively video endoscope1, they can be potted for example with plastic. The soldering points 18or respectively the flexible conductor plates 10, 11 can hereby beprotected from tensile loading.

FIG. 3 shows schematically a cross-section through the feed-throughdevice with the substrate 21 as per FIG. 2. The feed-through conductors9-9 ^(VIII) can be vapor-deposited and structured. Accordingly, theinsulating layer 14 and the metal layer 15 can also be vapor-deposited.It can be seen that the substrate 21 is round in cross-section. Thecorresponding feed-through conductors 9-9 ^(VIII) are arrangedsymmetrically around the substrate 21. The insulating layer 14 isarranged around them and around it the metal layer 15. The insulatinglayer 14 can be a silicon dioxide or a silicon nitride or anotherceramic. The feed-through conductors 9-9 ^(VIII) can be made of gold,copper or silver. The outer metal layer, which can also be called asolder layer, can for example be made of gold.

FIG. 4 shows another section representation of a portion of theembodiment as per FIG. 3, without the wall 16 for better illustration.

FIG. 2 through 4 show an embodiment without shielding. Whereas FIG. 5shows a schematic sectional representation of an embodiment withshielding, it can be seen that an intermediate layer 22, which can be ametal layer and serves for shielding together with the solder andshielding layer 23, is first provided around the substrate 21. Theconductor paths or respectively feed-through conductors 9-9 ^(VIII) arearranged on an insulating layer 24. A second insulating layer 25 isarranged around the feed-through conductor 9-9 ^(IV). The correspondinglayer and the feed-through conductors can also be vapor-depositedaccordingly. The insulating layers 24 and 25 can be made of siliconnitride, silicon dioxide or another ceramic.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a feed-through deviceaccording to the invention in a longitudinal, axial sectionalrepresentation. A rectangular flexible conductor plate 100 is providedas the substrate, which can also be made of a plastic.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional representation along A-A of FIG. 6.Five feed-through conductors 9-9 ^(IV) are applied around the flexibleconductor plate 100, of which three are applied above the conductorplate 100 and two below the conductor plate 100. The feed-throughconductors 9-9 ^(IV) can also be an integral component of the conductorplate 100. Feed-through conductors can also be applied to the sides or adifferent number of feed-through conductors can be applied.

An insulating layer 14 is provided around the feed-through conductor andthe flexible conductor plate 100. A metal layer 15 is provided aroundthe insulating layer 14. In the sectional view, the insulating layer 14and the metal layer 15 completely surround the substrate with thefeed-through conductors 9-9 ^(IV) here.

On the edges, i.e, indicated left and right in FIG. 6, two otherinsulating layers 26 and 27 are applied around the metal layer 25 orrespectively on the metal layer 25. These layers are, as shown in FIG.6, not applied in the middle area and are not applied to the end areaseither, which is not shown in FIG. 6, in order to enable a correspondingconnection of the feed-through conductors 9 through 9 ^(IV).

A connection with a corresponding first half shell 28 and thecorresponding second half shell 29 to the system tube 2 (not shown) isrepresented in FIG. 9. A hermetic solder 32 is also represented there.

FIG. 8 shows a structure, which is inserted into a system tube 2 (notshown), provided around a hermetic sealing. A first half shell 28 and asecond half shell 29, which are hermetically joined at the joints 30 and31, are provided. The solder, which enables a connection with the systemtube 2 (not shown) is then applied on the outer edge of the half shells28 and 29. This also concerns a hermetic connection. The hermeticconnection with the feed-through device comprising the flexibleconductor plate 100, the feed-through lines not shown in FIG. 8 forbetter illustration, the insulating layer 14 and the metal layer 15, onwhich the solder 32 is applied, are also shown in FIG. 8. The insulatinglayer 26 is also shown schematically. It protrudes over the opening forthe feed-through device resulting from the half shells 28, 29.

Through the embodiments according to FIGS. 6 through 9, a particularlysimple feed-through of conductors is possible since a flexible conductorplate, which is connected in the hermetic chamber with correspondingelectrical components, is led through directly. The corresponding layersare also applied, e.g. vapor-deposited, on the flexible conductor plate100. A potential creep distance between the applied layers of theflexible conductor plate 100 can be extended by the applied insulatinglayer 26 and 27. An electrical plating-through can hereby take placedirectly and without further soldering points or plug connections. Ahermetic soldering is nonetheless present. The dimensions that can beused in the feed-through device according to the invention areconsiderably smaller than for conventional solutions with hermeticplugs. Considerably thinner tubes can hereby be used.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic portion of a longitudinal cut through asurgical instrument according to the invention in another embodiment. Ahermetically sealed area 19 and a non-hermetic chamber 20 are alsoprovided here. For the connection of these two areas and for thefeed-through of electrical lines, an insulating body 40 is provided, towhich electrical lines in the form of electrically conductive layers areapplied, for example printed. The insulating body 40 is connected withthe tube 52 via a glass-potted connector 42. A hermetic connection ishereby created. The tube 52 can be the outer tube of the surgicalinstrument 1, but can also be connected with the outer tube of thesurgical instrument, in particular hermetically. The conductor paths orrespectively electrical connections 9-9 ^(VIII) can, as indicated forexample in FIG. 10, be printed or vapor-deposited on the surface of theinsulating body 40. These can hereby be metal layers that are arrangedin the longitudinal extension of the insulating body.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of anotherembodiment of the insulating body 40. Corresponding grooves 41 are madein the surface of the insulating body 40. Corresponding electricalconnections each in the form of a feed-through conductor 39-39 ^(VIII)provided on the floor of the grooves 40. A fit groove 43 is provided fora clear assignment of the corresponding electrical connections with aconnection plug. Alternatively, an eccentric blind hole can also beprovided, which can be connected with a correspondingly fitting pin of aplug attachable to the insulating body 40.

FIG. 12 shows a section of a lateral view of the insulating body 40, ina further embodiment, wherein rectangular grooves are provided along thelongitudinal axis of the insulating body 40. The grooves are labeledwith reference number 41. Corresponding feed-through conductors 39through 39 ^(IV) are provided in the grooves. Further feed-throughconductors 9-9 ^(V) are arranged on another level, namely on the outersurface of the insulating body 40. In the case of a circumference of forexample 31.4 mm, which corresponds to a diameter of 10 mm of theinsulating body 40, more than 400 conductor paths with a width of 75 μmcan hereby be accommodated. A second level of conductor paths is createdthrough the use of small rectangular longitudinal grooves distributedover the circumference.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the insulating body 40 in aschematic lateral view. V-shaped grooves are made longitudinally axiallyin the insulating body 40. The feed-through conductors 39 through 39^(VIII) are applied on the respective left flank of the respectivegroove 41′. It is provided that a feed-through conductor is arranged ineach groove. The fit groove 43 is also provided here. Through thisembodiment, in which corresponding V grooves are provided along thecylinder surface of the insulating body 40, for example of a ceramicpin, and a corresponding metallization of a flank of the V groove, it ispossible, for example in the case of a height of the flank of 45 μm at adiameter of the insulating body of 10 mm, to provide approximately 300conductor paths in a corresponding pin or respectively insulating body40.

Moreover, it is shown in FIG. 13 that the groove 43 also has aconducting layer 44, by means of which a contacting can also beperformed. For example, the mass can be conducted from the hermeticallysealed area towards outside the hermetically sealed area or respectivelyvice versa.

All named characteristics, also those taken solely from the drawings aswell as individual characteristics disclosed in combination with othercharacteristics, are considered important for the invention both aloneand in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can befulfilled by individual characteristics or a combination of severalcharacteristics.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   -   1 Video endoscope    -   2 System tube    -   3 Soldered in window    -   4 Objective    -   5 Video camera    -   6 Electrical line    -   7 Proximal opening    -   8 Potting material    -   9 Feed-through conductor    -   9 ^(I) Feed-through conductor    -   9 ^(II), 9 ^(III), 9 ^(IV), 9 ^(V), 9 ^(VI), Feed-through        conductor    -   9 ^(VI), 9 ^(VII), 9 ^(VIII) Feed-through conductor    -   10 Flexible conductor plate    -   11 Flexible conductor plate    -   12 Flexible conductor plate    -   13 Flexible conductor plate    -   14 Insulating layer    -   15 Metal layer    -   16 Wall    -   17 Hermetic solder    -   18 Solder    -   19 Hermetic chamber    -   20 Non hermetic chamber    -   21 Substrate    -   22 Intermediate layer    -   23 Solder and shielding layer    -   24 Insulating layer    -   25 Insulating layer    -   26 Insulating layer    -   27 Insulating layer    -   28 First half shell    -   29 Second half shell    -   30 Joint    -   31 Joint    -   32 Hermetic groove    -   39, 39 ^(I), 39 ^(II), 39 ^(III), 39 ^(IV), 39 ^(V), 39 ^(VI),        39 ^(VII), 39 ^(VIII) Feed-through conductor    -   40 Insulating body    -   41, 41′ Groove    -   42 Glass-potted connector    -   43 Fit groove    -   44 Conducting layer    -   52 Tube    -   100 Flexible conductor plate

1. A surgical instrument comprising: a hermetic chamber, wherein atleast one electrical connection from the hermetic chamber to outside thehermetic chamber to an outer area is provided, and the at least oneelectrical connection is applied to an electrically insulatingsubstrate, a first insulating layer applied at least to the electricalconnection; and a layer suitable for a hermetic connection applied tothe first insulating layer, which is hermetically connected with a wallof the surgical instrument.
 2. The surgical instrument according toclaim 1, wherein the hermetic connection is a soldering.
 3. The surgicalinstrument according to claim 1, wherein the hermetic chamber isprovided in a tube.
 4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1,wherein the electrically insulating substrate has a thermal conductivityof more than 1 W/mK.
 5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1,wherein the electrically insulating substrate is at least a part of aflexible conductor plate, wherein in particular the at least oneelectrical connection is at least a conductor of the conductor plate. 6.The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein several electricalconnections are provided, which are arranged around the substrate. 7.The surgical instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that awall extends radially, inward from the tube in the area of theelectrically insulating substrate, wherein the wall radially surroundsthe electrically insulating substrate and is circumferentiallyhermetically connected with the layer suitable for the hermeticconnection.
 8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein thewall comprises at least two shell elements, which are joined togetherhermetically.
 9. A surgical instrument comprising: a hermetic chamber,wherein a majority of electrical connections is provided from thehermetic chamber to outside the hermetic chamber to an outer area,wherein the majority of electrical connections are applied to a surfaceof an electrically insulating body, wherein the body has a longitudinalextension from the hermetic chamber to outside the hermetic chamber, andthe body is hermetically connected with a tube.
 10. The surgicalinstrument according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the body is oneor both of printed with at least some of the electrical connections andapplied in the form of a metallization onto the surface of the body. 11.The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the body hasgrooves extending longitudinally axially, wherein at least one portionof the majority of the electrical connections are arranged in thegrooves.
 12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein thegrooves have a rectangular cross-section.
 13. The surgical instrumentaccording to claim 20, wherein an electrical connection is applied to aflank of each respective V-shaped groove.
 14. The surgical instrumentaccording to claim 11, wherein a portion of the electrical connectionsare provided outside the grooves.
 15. The surgical instrument accordingto claim 9, wherein the tube is one of an outer tube of the surgicalinstrument or is hermetically sealed with the outer tube of the surgicalinstrument.
 16. The surgical instrument according to claim 3, whereinthe tube is an endoscope.
 17. The surgical instrument according to claim3, wherein the endoscope is a laparoscope.
 18. The surgical instrumentaccording to claim 4, wherein the thermal conductivity is greater than200 W/mK.
 19. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein theseveral electrical connections are provided symmetrically around thesubstrate.
 20. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, whereinthe grooves have a V-shaped cross-section.